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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: A randomized trial
Hepatology, Volume 43, No. 5, Year 2006
Notification
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Description
Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection cannot be predicted, and chronic evolution of the disease occurs in a majority of cases. To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b administered for 8, 12, or 24 weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection a total of 161 patients were identified with acute hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 30 patients refused treatment but were retained in the study as a nonrandomized comparison group. Of the 131 patients who consented to treatment, 29 patients spontaneously resolved, leaving 102 patients randomly assigned to peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 μg/ kg) for 8 weeks (group A; n = 34), 12 weeks (group B; n = 34), and 24 weeks (group C; n = 34). The primary end point was sustained virologic response. An intent-to-treat analysis was used for efficacy and safety end points. Sustained virologic response was achieved in 23/34 (67.6%), 28/34 (82.4%), and 31/34 (91.2%) of patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively; all had undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA 48 weeks after the end of therapy. Treatment for 8 or 12 weeks was effective in genotypes 2, 3, and 4, whereas genotype 1 required 24 weeks of therapy. The 8- and 12-week regimens were associated with fewer adverse events compared with the 24-week regimen. In conclusion, peginterferon alpha-2b effectively induces high sustained virologic response rates in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection, thus preventing development of chronic hepatitis C. Duration of treatment should be further optimized based on genotype and rapid virologic response at week 4. Copyright © 2006 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kamal, Sanaa Moharram
United States, Boston
Harvard Medical School
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
United States, Boston
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Moustafa, Khairy N.
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
Chen, Jason
United States, Boston
Harvard Medical School
Fehr, Jutta J.
Germany, Freiburg Im Breisgau
Universität Freiburg
Moneim, Azza Abdel
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
El Sayed Khalifa Mohamed, K.
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
El Gohary, Leila A.
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
Ramy, Amr H.
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
Madwar, Mohammed Ali
Unknown Affiliation
Rasenack, Jens W.F.
Germany, Freiburg Im Breisgau
Universität Freiburg
Afdhal, Nezam H.
United States, Boston
Harvard Medical School
Statistics
Citations: 144
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/hep.21197
ISSN:
02709139
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Quasi Experimental Study